Choosing child care for your little one is one of the most important decision you as a parent can make. You are, after all, choosing who you will be trusting with the safety, health and well-being of your child. There are many things to consider when choosing child care, including the reputation of the child care center, the policies and programs they offer and the level of professionalism and certification the center attained. Here are a few tips and things to consider in your child care search.

Make Time

When choosing child care, it is important that you give yourself some time to visit a few places and do some research on each one. The last thing you want to do is scramble at the last minute to find a child care center before a program begins. Making a last minute, hasty decision when choosing child care can wind up being something you regret, especially if research in advance would have steered you away from your decision. Make time to get to know the people, the place and the other kids and parents at a child care center before enrolling your child.

Certifications and Qualifications

Another important consideration when choosing child care is what type of qualifications, licenses and certifications the staff and facility have. Ask about the education and qualifications of the child care center’s caregivers. Do they undergo continuing education and training? Is the center licensed for child care in the county and what are the licensing requirements?

Adult to Child Ratio

When choosing child care, the adult to child ratio of the center is an important factor. The more adults per child, the more attention and instruction can be given to your child in the course of the program. Also, the more adults per child ensures that the children are properly supervised, which is an important safety consideration. If a caregiver has to attend to too many kids at once, she can become overwhelmed and will have trouble keeping a good eye on everyone. Adult to child ratios are usually prescribed by age, with one adult for every ten children being a good number for preschool age kids.

Reputation and Testimonials

One of the best ways to find information about a child care center is to talk to the parents of children in the programs and see what they think about how things are being run. Most parents do not shy away from talking about any drawbacks or benefits of a certain child care program. They are, after all, just as concerned about their child’s welfare as you are.

Policies

Before choosing a child care center, check out the policies they have in place. Most child care centers publish their policies on health, safety, attendance and pick-up/drop-off times. Make sure that these policies are suitable for you and your child and don’t hesitate to ask any questions about anything that is unclear.

Choosing Child Care

Once you have made your decision about the best childcare center for your child, the work isn’t over. Make an effort to engage in your child’s child care by getting involved. You can visit or volunteer in the classroom and get to know parents and caregivers. Your child’s education and care is a constant development that you can be a part of too!

Child Care at Toddler Town Daycare Centers

We hope that these brief tips helped orient you in your journey of choosing quality childcare for your child. At Toddler Town Chicago, we want you to choose child care that is the best for your child and your personal circumstances and preferences. While your here, check out Toddler Town Chicago and Evanston’s great childcare programs and contact us for any questions. We look forward to hearing from you. Good luck on your search!